Spotify eliminates over 75 million AI‑generated spam tracks

Spotify announced that more than 75 million tracks were removed from its catalogue in the past 12 months. The deletions targeted low‑quality mass uploads, duplicate files, AI‑generated songs used to impersonate artists, and content created solely to manipulate streaming‑royalty calculations. The company says the purge is aimed at preventing fraud that diverts earnings from legitimate musicians, a problem highlighted by cases affecting independent South African artists.

Spotify clarified that the action does not ban the use of artificial intelligence in music creation. Artists may continue to publish AI‑assisted works provided they have the appropriate rights and disclose AI involvement through new metadata fields that indicate whether AI was used for vocals, instrumentation, or other production elements. New policies also strengthen detection of impersonations and require transparency about AI usage, while preserving the platform’s support for creative AI tools such as its AI‑DJ and smart playlists.